LSU opens as home underdogs against Texas A&M

For the first time this year, LSU is a betting underdog at home entering a game. The Tigers host Texas A&M on Saturday night in Death Valley, but coming off of the disheartening loss to Vanderbilt over the weekend, the oddsmakers see the Aggies as the favorites to win the game, as -2.5 point favorites against LSU, per Bet MGM.

Texas A&M is 7-0 on the year and the No. 3 team in the country and coming off of a 45-42 win over Arkansas on the road. The last eight meetings between LSU and Texas A&M have ended with the home team winning, but the Tigers will need to play their best game of the season to hold off Mike Elko’s team and keep its playoff dreams alive.

The total for the game opened at 49.5, but is now at 48.5 and could continue to drop despite LSU hitting an over for points for the first time all season in an FBS game. Can Brian Kelly’s offense get going on Saturday? Or will LSU suffer a painful loss to a rival?

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Brian Kelly quotes after LSU’s loss

Opening statement…

“I just told our team, we had opportunities we didn’t cash in on them. From an offensive standpoint, we had three opportunities to score that were field goals. And look, guys know we were playing a team that was going to make it very difficult for us to possess the football. We had three possessions in the first half. So it’s like playing triple option, and we did not play well enough on either side of the ball to be the better team today. Vanderbilt was the better team today because they executed at a higher level. So when you look at it in its totality, defensively, not enough stops. Offensively, when we had an opportunity to score touchdowns, we had to kick field goals, and that was the difference in the game.”

On the defense’s struggles…

“I go back to what I said. When you play an offense like this, it’s the details—being in the right place and having eye discipline, making the plays when they come your way—is paramount to slowing them down. We just didn’t do a good enough job on the details when it came to trying to defend this offense.”

On the offense’s performance…

“Yeah, I thought when we rallied there in the third quarter with the touchdown and two-point play, got it to three, obviously then they drive the length of the field, it’s a bit deflating. But we come right back, and we just can’t punch it in, so we kick a field goal there. We needed to match scores and then needed a couple of stops. This game was about details—their details were better. Offensively, there were some good things, but again, the thing that stands out is not scoring touchdowns when you have the opportunity.”